Despite A Normal Day, Two More Die In Kashmir
By Sheikh Imran Bashir
17 August , 2010
Agence India Press
Srinagar: A man hurt in a clash with security forces succumbed to his injuries here Tuesday, while a cyclist died after being knocked down by a paramilitary vehicle trying to escape a stone-pelting mob, taking the toll in the ongoing unrest in the Kashmir Valley to 61.
Mohammad Abbas Dhobi, who was injured in clashes in Lazibal of Anantnag district last week, died in a SK Institue of Medical Sciences in the morning.
His body was handed over to relatives for burial. Locals in Anantnag allege the youth had been severely beaten up by security personnel.
Curfew today remained in force in Trehgam, Anantnag and Mattan towns as a precautionary measure following the death of an injured person in a hospital here even as restrictions were eased in other areas in the Kashmir Valley.
The lifting of curfew coincided with a break in strikes called by Hurriyat (G) led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani following which shops, educational institutions, banks, post offices and other businesses were immediately shut in the twin towns. Dozens of stone-pelting youth came out on the roads, engaging security forces in clashes.
An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Anantnag and Pulwama towns, a police official said.
Meanwhile, a retired police constable, died in Bemina Srinagar after being hit by a paramilitary vehicle, resulting in clashes in the area.
The retired police constable identified as Mohammad Yousuf who died on the spot after being hit by a paramilitary vehicle in Bemina," a police official said.
However, protesters again come out on streets and pelt stones on troopers in Batmaloo where the retired policeman lived, they said.
Heavy traffic was witnessed on the road as normal traffic from North Kashmir remained disrupted for hours on Bypass road due to protests at Bemina.
In Batamaloo, protesters set up roadblocks by logs and hurled stones at security forces. Police retaliated by firing warning shots and used tear gas and batons.
In Maisuma, forces fired warning shots after failing to disperse groups of stone pelting youth with baton charge.
In Pulwama district, at least three persons were wounded when CRPF and police used force to disperse demonstrators near Main Chowk.
In Palhalan, scores of youth assembled on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Palhalan and staged pro-freedom demonstrations in morning. Shouting pro-freedom slogans, the protesters tried to march on the highway. However, CRPF cops and police seize the protesters with the use of tear smoke shells to disperse them. In reaction, angry protesters pelted stones and on the forces
Later, forces opened fire upon demonstrators resulting in injuries to at least six persons. Two of the youth who sustained bullet injuries were rushed to Srinagar hospital for cure.
But, police spokesman in the statement said that the cops opened fire in self defense when their vehicle was attacked by a mob near Palhalan this morning.
In Kupwara sectorPolice of arrested a wanted stone pelter while raiding a house in Trehgam area.
The accused person identifies as Adil Manzoor Bhat son of Trehgam was arrested when the police was carrying out the raid in search of some wanted stone pelters, said police.
Today as the call for a working day by Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, normal life was began early across the Kashmir region on Tuesday.
A senior police officer told Agence India Press that, Curfew and restrictions have been lifted today in the Srinagar city and other towns.
Shops, banks, post offices, educational institutions and other business establishments opened in Srinagar and other towns of Valley besides this public transport plied on the streets.
At many places traffic police personnel seemed helpless in the middle of road who struggled hard to streamline the heavy traffic.
The Valley has been rocked by violence following the death of a teenager on June 11 after allegedly being hit by a teargas shell at Rajouri Kadal. After that street protests broke out in the Valley claiming 61 lives.
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